Devices and methods for brain stimulation

Abstract

A device for brain stimulation that includes a lead having a longitudinal surface; at least one stimulation electrode disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead; and at least one recording electrode, separate from the at least one stimulation electrode, disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead.

1. A device for brain stimulation, comprising:
 a lead defining a lumen having a non-circular lateral cross-section comprising a plurality of arms extending from a central cavity, wherein the lumen is configured and arranged to receive a stylet having a lateral cross-section corresponding to the lateral cross-section of the lumen; 
 at least one electrode disposed on the lead; and 
 a stylet having a lateral cross-section corresponding to the lateral cross-section of the lumen. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen has a cruciform or star-shaped lateral cross-section. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a recording electrode. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a stimulation electrode. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises at least one recording electrode and at least one stimulation electrode. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises
 a plurality of stimulation electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead; and 
 at least one recording electrode, separate from the plurality of stimulation electrodes, disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead, each recording electrode consisting essentially of an exposed tip of a wire, wherein at least one of the at least one recording electrodes is disposed between two of the plurality of stimulation electrodes. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein at least one recording electrode is circumferentially surrounded by a one of the plurality of stimulation electrodes. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises
 at least one stimulation electrode disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead; and 
 a plurality of recording electrodes, separate from the at least one stimulation electrode, wherein the plurality of recording electrodes comprises a plurality of sets of recording electrodes, each set comprises a plurality of the recording electrodes disposed at intervals around the circumference of the lead at a same longitudinal position along the lead, wherein each set of recording electrodes is separated from other sets of recording electrodes by at least one of the at least one stimulation electrodes. 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the recording electrodes of each set of recording electrodes are disposed at regular intervals around the circumference of the lead. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of the sets of recording electrodes comprises four recording electrodes disposed around the circumference of the lead at 90° intervals. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a plurality of stimulation electrodes disposed in a longitudinal array along the surface of the lead. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a plurality of recording electrodes separate from the plurality of stimulation electrodes. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of recording electrodes is disposed between at least two of the stimulation electrodes. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a microdrive motor system coupled to the lead to facilitate positioning of the lead in a brain of a patient. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the microdrive motor system is configured and arranged to be responsive to signals from the at least one electrode. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises
 a recording electrode disposed on the lead; and 
 a stimulation electrode disposed on the lead and circumferentially surrounding the recording electrode, wherein the recording electrode and stimulation electrode are separated by a non-conductive region. 
 
     
     
       17. A method for brain stimulation, the method comprising: providing the device of  claim 1 ;
 inserting the lead into a cranium of a patient, wherein the at least one electrode disposed on the lead comprises a plurality of stimulation electrodes disposed along a longitudinal surface of the lead; and at least one recording electrode, separate from the plurality of stimulation electrodes, disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead, each recording electrode consisting essentially of an exposed tip of a wire, wherein at least one of the at least one recording electrodes is disposed between two of the plurality of stimulation electrodes; 
 identifying target neurons using the at least one recording electrode; and 
 stimulating the target neurons using at least one of the plurality of stimulation electrodes. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising inserting the stylet into the lead to assist in inserting the lead into the cranium of the patient. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the lumen has a cruciform or star-shaped lateral cross-section. 
     
     
       20. A device for brain stimulation, comprising:
 a lead having a longitudinal surface, wherein the lead defines a stylet lumen having a non-circular lateral cross-section comprising a plurality of arms extending from a central cavity, wherein the stylet lumen is configured and arranged for receiving a stylet having a lateral cross-section corresponding to the lateral cross-section of the lumen; 
 a plurality of stimulation electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead; and 
 at least one recording electrode, separate from the plurality of stimulation electrodes, disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead, wherein at least one of the at least one recording electrodes is disposed between two of the plurality of stimulation electrodes, and 
 a stylet having a lateral cross-section corresponding to the lateral cross-section of the lumen. 
 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 20 , wherein each recording electrode consists essentially of an exposed tip of a wire, wherein at least one of the at least one recording electrodes is disposed between two of the plurality of stimulation electrodes. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one recording electrode is circumferentially surrounded by a one of the plurality of stimulation electrodes. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one recording electrode comprises a plurality of sets of recording electrodes, each set comprises a plurality of the recording electrodes disposed at intervals around the circumference of the lead at a same longitudinal position along the lead, wherein each set of recording electrodes is separated from other sets of recording electrodes by at least one of the at least one stimulation electrodes. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 23 , wherein the recording electrodes of each set of recording electrodes are disposed at regular intervals around the circumference of the lead. 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one of the sets of recording electrodes comprises four recording electrodes disposed around the circumference of the lead at 90° intervals. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one recording electrode comprises a plurality of recording electrodes separate from the plurality of stimulation electrodes. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the plurality of recording electrodes is disposed between at least two of the stimulation electrodes. 
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 20 , further comprising a microdrive motor system coupled to the lead to facilitate positioning of the lead in a brain of a patient. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 28 , wherein the microdrive motor system is configured and arranged to be responsive to signals from the at least one recording electrode.